Koi Perich S Oregon |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #3 ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.54 seconds (59%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #3 | |
| ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | |
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.54 seconds (59%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
84.7 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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78% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 119.2 | |
| Tackling: |
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93% |
| Run Defense: |
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79% |
| Coverage: |
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71% |
| Zone: |
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73% |
| Man/Press: |
|
70% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#84
Position rank:
#17 (DB)
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| College Games: 34 College Snaps: 1807 | ||
ESPN RATING: 82/100
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247 RATING: 96/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jonas Sanker - Virginia |
|
85% |
| Malaki Starks - Georgia |
|
84% |
| Lathan Ransom - Ohio State |
|
84% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Koi Perich was the top high school player in Minnesota at Esko High School and a consensus four-star recruit who turned down Ohio State before signing day to stay home with Minnesota.Perich made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2024, intercepting five passes, making 46 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble in 13 games and serving as the Gophers' primary kick and punt returner. He was a first-team All-Big Ten pick and a second-team All-American. In 2025 he made 82 tackles, took an interception back for a touchdown against Purdue and caught seven passes for 89 yards as a part-time receiver, though he muffed a punt in a loss at California.
Perich entered the transfer portal when it opened in January 2026 and committed to Oregon on 12 January, after visiting Eugene the weekend before the portal opened. He has played every game at safety for a 5-3 team, making 11 tackles in the opener against Boise State and 11 with an interception in the loss to UCLA, and he intercepted another pass at USC. He has two interceptions and 60 tackles in eight games, and he was on the Hornung and Thorpe watch lists before the season. Dan Lanning has called him a junkie who has no interest in his apartment and lives at the facility.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Dynamic playmaker with eight career interceptions in three seasons
- Sure tackler this season, with one missed tackle in eight games
- Intercepted passes at USC and against UCLA this season
- Experience as a kick returner, punt returner and receiver
- First-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-American as a freshman
- Plays every snap with energy, as Dan Lanning has praised
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Missed 23 tackles in 2025 during his final Minnesota season
- Allowed 455 yards in coverage during the 2025 season
- Has allowed two touchdowns in coverage this season
- Average timed speed for a safety who covers the deep middle
Scouting Report: Summary
Perich is a dynamic playmaker who has made plays with the ball since his first college season. He intercepted five passes as a freshman at Minnesota and was a first-team All-Big Ten pick and second-team All-American, and he has eight career interceptions, including two this season at Oregon. He has also contributed as a kick and punt returner and as a receiver, which shows in how he attacks the ball.His first season at Oregon has been his most complete. He has 60 tackles in eight games, including 11 against Boise State and 11 with an interception against UCLA, and he has missed only one tackle after 23 misses in 2025. Dan Lanning has called him a junkie who lives at the facility, and his energy has stood out for a 5-3 team. He has played more than 520 snaps this season and allowed 10 catches on 14 targets.
However, the coverage has been inconsistent. He allowed 455 yards in coverage in 2025, and he has given up two touchdowns this season. His timed speed is average for a safety who covers the deep middle, and his interception total dropped from five as a freshman to one as a sophomore before rebounding this fall. Teams will want to see whether his tackling improvement is permanent. He also muffed a punt in a 2025 loss at California.
Overall, Perich's instincts, ball skills and return experience give him a clear path to an NFL role, and his 2026 tackling has addressed his biggest flaw. He projects as a third-round safety with the ceiling of a starter and the floor of a special teams contributor and returner, and he also has eligibility left if he chooses to return. His Hornung and Thorpe watch list selections reflect how many ways he can help a team.
How other scouting services rate Koi Perich (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
73.9
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
16.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.